Aquino seeks INC support for Mar-Leni

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III on Monday visited the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) headquarters and had a closed-door meeting with Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo, apparently to seek the religious sect’s endorsement for the administration candidates Manuel Roxas II and Leni Robredo.

Aquino paid a courtesy call on Manalo at the INC Central Office in Quezon City in the morning, sources privy to the meeting said, just a week before the synchronized local and national elections on May 9.

In an interview after their meeting, Aquino said he thanked the INC for its steadfast support for his administration, hoping this will extend to his anointed political bets.

“We have truly felt the support of the INC throughout the administration and even before I had been in office,” the President told INC media in Filipino.

Both Roxas and Robredo are trailing in the surveys to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Bongbong Marcos, respectively.

INC members are known to practice bloc voting during elections, meaning they all vote for candidates chosen by their church leaders. Their support, therefore, could be crucial in a close race.

Aquino, who was endorsed by the INC during the 2010 elections, said he also shared with Manalo his vision for the Philippines after he steps down from office.

The President said he also gave “usual appeals and political appeals,” but did not elaborate.

“As usual I’ve been received well by Ka Eduardo,” he stressed. “I have no complaints, but to say thanks for all the support.”

Asked for his thoughts on the elections, Aquino said he hopes voters will choose to continue with his administration’s Daang Matuwid (Straight Path) principles and programs.

“You’ve seen the proof in our performance,” he stressed. “The so-called Straight Path, it’s up to you to continue and strengthen it.”

Aquino added, “In the end, like we always say, the people is our boss. We will wait for the judgment of the people in what they want.”

Social Weather Stations (SWS) chief Mahar Mangahas had said INC voters would reach around 1.7 million by 2016. He’d also said that in the 2010 elections, INC accounted for 4.25 percent or 1.53 million of about 36 million votes cast for president and vice president.

3 Comments

When Aquino personally rushed to meet INC’s Manalo Monday, the message was clear that INC’s not supporting Roxas so Aquino had to go and plead. Aside from Miriam Santiago who’s obviously not a serious candidate mainly due to her terminal illness, Roxas is consistently the lowest in ranking. So, INC votes are very important to him. However, after knowing that he might not be endorsed by INC, he declared that INC’s vote is just a plus. This doesn’t sound good with INC.

If INC decides to endorse Duterte, it’s largely du to Duterte’s leading the surveys since INC often goes for the winner. Also,
INC leader Manalo is tough and cruel like Duterte. Parehong berdugo. If Manalo could disown his own mother and siblings as well as order the harassment and persecution of ministers and brethren who opposed the corruption at the hierarchy of the church, he could do anything even liquidating the enemies using the long existing INC Hit Squad. So, you can see the similarities between Duterte and INC/Manalo.

One more thing, Duterte becoming President benefits INC because INC would have less fear of NPA and Muslim rebels that sometimes burn the chapels in the provinces. Duterte has close ties with NPA and the Muslims.

What about Duterte’s ill-gotten wealth? Well, he’s as corrupt as some high ranking INC ministers and Manalo. Both would scratch each other’s backs and protect one another.

As for VP, INC has long decided to endorse Bongbong Marcos. In fact, if Marcos decided to run for president, INC would support his presidency.